The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-01
UyWILLINGLY RETURNED.
ANNIE CUNNINGHAM RESTORES
ROSA GRANTHAM
To Her Mether-A Different Yer.
sion OF the Abduction
Romance.

Rosa Grantham and her alleged abb
ductress, Miss Annie Cunningham, re-
turned to The city yesterday afternoon.
They came in quietly, and in the same
manner entered the private ofiee Of
Chief Of Police Davis. The object OF
the woman. as she stated, was to re-
turn the girl to her mother, because
of inability to provide for her. To do
this without lasting marks OF Mrs.
Granthsm's displeasure upon Rosa,
they went first to the Police Station to
secure protection from that source.
The Chief is sick, and Capt. Hsckett,
acting in his stead, took charge of the
case, While waiting for the Captain
to provide an escort for the girl, an
APPEAL reporter cav Miss Cunning
ham and Rosa In the private Office. In
reply to q request for her side Of the
story, the woman only expressed ab.
horrence for all newspaper men, and
then relapssd into silence. Strategic
parleying soon got her to talking
rather freely, however, and brought
an entirely different version OF
the girls mysterious disappear
ance from home. Miss Gun
niugbam Tor, ss she claims to be mar
ried, Mrs. claims she has not been
in Memphis since October, 1884, and
had nothing whatever to do with her
niece. leaving home. At the time Of
Mr.. Grsnthcm's death, several years
ago, the family was too poor to give
him decent burial and che aided them
with a contribution OF $25. Since then
she had sent them money frequently,
the last installment reaching them a
few days previous to Roea's flight. She
had TO idea Of anything OF the kind
until the girl put Ia an appearance at
her home In Newport, Ark. She
would have brought her back immedi-
ately, but 1t was necessary to 6ist
make up respectable clothing for the
child to wear on che journey.
"Then you did not erdeavor 10 COL
lect number OF girls from the Mar
ket street school to take in the far
West as q concert troupe3" cautiously
inquired the reporter.
II don't even know where the
school is, and have no idea hew to
manage a concert troupe.
"No one supposed you wanted them
to compose concert troupe, bat the
impression prevailed that they were
to ente, your alleged house Of Ill fame
at Hot Springs"
Who accused me OF THAR" che
snapped, turning her lustrous eyes
menscipgly toward the reporter. ~
never run house OF that kind, and
think too much Of myself to do 80
The worst woman l ever had in my
house was one named Randolph, from
Memphis, and when her character
was discovered her trunk was thrown
into the street and she ordered to fol-
low in quick time. She is the woman
who trumped up that charge"
This stirred her to TRADE against
Mrs. Chatham, and che continued /.
Had II been possible for anyone to live
with her, Rosa would never have 6ed.
I've seen her myself etrike the
children with an ak, and II their
heads had not been hardened by such
treatment some OF them would have
been dead by this time. Her children
were at one time bright and smart
but not one OF them now has sense
enough to get In out OF the rain. Rosa
here, once promising child, is now
tickle and absent minded, with only
about half sense"
A plying glance was bestowed upon
the unfortunate girl, who apparently
understood the Significance, and uick'
ly broke in with 10, I've got plenty Of
sense" mot as much as you used tc
have, sharply Q rected the indignant
woman.
Capt. Hackett appe ared at this junct
ure with Officer Mshan, who was Il
escort the girl home and read the rio
act to her cruel mother. A touchinI
scene between the woman and cir
followed the announcement OF thu
conclusion. Breaking into tears, thu
latter said her mother would kill her
and declared she would not return
The captain endeavored to allay he
fears by stating that the police WoulC
give her ample protection, and insist
ed she must return. Seeing it useles
to remain stubb Irn, she fell Into tn,
arms OF Mrs. Cunningham and wep
bitterly for some minutes. Finally sh
wiped her eyes and departed, but in
manner indicative OF fear that Hh
was marching to certain death.
Whether or not there was anythin
criminal in the designs Of Mrs. Oun
ningham toward the girl, there is un